Lexus LX570 review

The new Lexus LX570 has finally arrived on Australian shores. Dean Mellor asks, is it more than just a flash Landcruiser?

Despite its unique styling features, including grille, bonnet, headlamps and tail lights, it's obvious to most that the new Lexus LX570 is a Toyota LandCruiser with the lot.

Lexus offers two model variants of the new LX570: Prestige at $136,700 and Sports Luxury at $151,700.

There are a number of mechanical features that make the LX570 very different from the Cruiser on which it's based, most notably the super-smooth and potent 5.7-litre V8 engine that pumps out 270kW and 530Nm, propelling the 2740kg luxo-wagon from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.8 seconds.

Although the new donk is bigger, and the LX570 weighs more than its LX470 predecessor, Lexus claims a fuel economy improvement of eight percent; the official combined cycle is 14.8L/100km. The LX570 has a 93-litre main tank and a 45-litre sub tank.

The engine is mated to the same AB60F six-speed auto transmission used in the turbo-diesel Cruiser, with the same ratios and final drive. The transmission feels as though it was designed to mate to the 5.7-litre petrol V8; it's smoother in the Lexus than in the turbo-diesel Cruiser.